Dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance

ABSTRACT

In embodiments of the present invention, improved capabilities are described for a method presenting a client, providing client information and requesting an IP address from a DHCP server, where the DHCP server may formulate a first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options. A policy management facility may be associated with the interception of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options, which may result in the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options not being sent to the client. The method may send client information to the policy management facility. The policy management facility may formulate a second multiple DHCP options and may send it to the DHCP server. The DHCP server may change first IP assignment and first multiple DHCP option to a second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options. The second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options may then be forwarded to the client.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/035,638 filed on Feb. 22, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention is related to secure computing, and more specifically to IP address assignment and DHCP options assignment to a client.

2. Description of the Related Art

A client, when connecting to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, requests an IP address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. The responding DHCP server then assigns an IP address to the client. The DHCP server also assigns DHCP options to the client that are necessary for the client to operate on an IP network. Both the IP address and the DHCP options are then transmitted back to the client, which allows the client to operate on the IP network. Since the assignment is not tied to any policy rule associated with the client or to the user, the assignments are made automatically. This may be an issue if the client or the user poses a threat to network components or network accessible enterprise resources. There exists therefore a need for improved ways to assign IP addresses and DHCP options to a client.

SUMMARY

In embodiments of the present invention, improved capabilities are described for a dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance. The method includes presenting a client may request an IP address from a DHCP server, wherein the client may provide client information to the DHCP server; formulate a first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options by the DHCP server; intercept the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options by a policy management facility, wherein intercepting may stop the sending of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the client; send client information to the policy management facility; formulate a second multiple DHCP options in association with the policy management facility, wherein the second multiple DHCP options may be sent from the policy management facility to the DHCP server; change the DHCP options in the DHCP server from the first IP assignment and first multiple DHCP options to a second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options; and send the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options from the DHCP server to the client, wherein the client may apply the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with a client security facility.

In embodiments, the client request may be made when the client initializes the network, first connects to the network, boots up, or the like. In embodiments, the client request may be made in association with a lease, a security threat detected by the client end-point security facility, or the like. In embodiments, the client request for an IP address may be generated through a TCP/IP configured software resident on the client.

In embodiments, the DHCP server may implement a protocol used by the client to obtain parameters necessary for the client to operate on an internet protocol (IP) network. The parameter may be an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, a lease, a TCP/IP configuration parameter, or some other type of parameter. Further, in embodiments, the lease may be associated with a length of time for which the IP address is allocated. Furthermore, the lease may be renewed.

In embodiments, the client may send a broadcast query to the network requesting the parameters from the DHCP server. Further, in embodiments, the broadcast query may be a discovery of the physical subnet to find available DHCP servers. In addition, the client may send the broadcast query when the client performs network initialization or when the client boots up.

In embodiments, the DHCP server may provide for a dynamic allocation of IP addresses. Further, the dynamic allocation may provide for a range of IP addresses. Furthermore, the range of IP address may be assigned by an administrator. In embodiments, the dynamic allocation may utilize the lease. Further, the lease may represent the time period for which the IP address may be valid.

In embodiments, the DHCP server may manage a number of IP addresses. Further, IP addresses may have been allocated. Furthermore, in embodiments, the allocation may be by an internet assigned numbers authority, a regional internet registry, an enterprise administrator or some other type of allocation. In embodiments, the IP address may be a unique address for network components of an IP network. Further, the IP address enables network components to communicate a unique address for the Internet, a unique address for a specific network, a unique address for an enterprise, a private IP address, or some other type of IP address.

In embodiments, multiple DHCP options are used to assign network configuration parameters. Further, the configuration may be automatic. In addition, the configuration may be for IP hosts. In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be associated with a full network access, a normal network, a restricted access, or some other type of network configuration parameters. Furthermore, the restricted access may provide only external network access. In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be associated with isolating the client. The isolated client may be associated with quarantine.

In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be a subnet mask, a router, a time server, a name server, a domain server, a log server, a quotes server, a LPR server, an impress server, a RLP server, a hostname, a domain name, a static route, a vendor specific, an address request, an address time, a class ID, a client ID, a relay agent information, a classless static route, an IEE 802.1Q VLAN ID, or some other type of network configuration parameters.

In embodiments, the client information may be provided from the client to the DHCP server. Further, the client information may be provided by the client as a part of the client request for an IP address, In addition, the client information may be provided automatically as a part of the client request for the IP address or when the DHCP server may request the client information. Furthermore, the DHCP server request may be made each time a client requests an IP address, in association with a DHCP plug-in, may be initiated by the DHCP plug-in, and the like.

In embodiments, the client information may be a MAC address, a time of day, a current location of the client, a user ID, a user name, an IP address requested by the client, a DHCP option requested by the client, a client capability, or some other type of client information. Further, the client capability may be the presence of a software application, a network access control capability, or some other type of client capability.

In embodiments, the client information may be security vulnerability. Further, the security vulnerability may be associated with malware security vulnerability. In embodiments, the malware security vulnerability may be from the client having no end-point security facility or out of date end-point security facility. Furthermore, the end-point security facility may be malware security software.

In embodiments the malware security vulnerability may be from the client end-point security facility detecting a malware threat, a suspicious behavior, associated with a client end-point firewall, and the like. Further, there may be no client end-point firewall or the client end-point firewall may be improperly configured.

In embodiments, the client information may be software vulnerability. Further, the software vulnerability may be associated with a license, a registration, an unauthorized software application, or some other type of software vulnerability. Furthermore, the license may be out of date or there may be no valid license agreement. In embodiments, the registration may be out of date or there may be no valid registration.

In embodiments, the client information may be a client configuration status. Further, the client configuration status may be associated with the policy management facility, the client operating system, the client end-point security facility, or some other type of client configuration status. Furthermore, in embodiments, the policy management facility may read the configuration status as an indication of policy compliance.

In embodiments, interception may be provided by the DHCP plug-in, the application server, the policy management facility, or some other type of mechanism.

In embodiments, formulating the second multiple DHCP options in association with the policy management facility may be in association with a policy. Further, the policy may be associated with user identification, a client configuration, an end-point security status, a location, a time or some other type of policy, and the like.

In embodiments, the user identification may be associated with an enterprise organizational set of policies, employment status, personal policy profile, or some other type of user identification. Further, the enterprise organizational set of policies may be associated with a department, a management position within the enterprise, a personnel position within the enterprise, an outside contractor, a visitor to the enterprise, or some other type of parameter.

In embodiments, the policy may be associated with the client configuration. The client configuration may be associated with compliance, a client capability, and the like. Further, the compliance may be end-point security compliance. Furthermore, the end-point security compliance may be associated with the client having updated end-point security software. In embodiments, the compliance may be a software application compliance, a hardware compliance, a registration compliance, a license compliance, or some other type of compliance. In embodiment, the client configuration may be associated with the client capability. Further, the client capability may be a software capability, a hardware capability, a network access capability, an interface capability, or some other type of client capability.

In embodiments, the policy may be associated with an end-point security status. Further, the end-point security status may indicate detection of malware or of suspicious behavior. The suspicious behavior may be associated with a software file or a user action.

In embodiments, the policy may be associated with a location. The location may be a current location, the home location, the previous location, a geographic location, an enterprise location, a personal location, a mobile location, or some other type of location.

In embodiments, the policy may be associated with a time. The time may be associated with work hours. In addition, the time may be during normal work hours, after work hours, late night, or some other time.

In embodiments of the present invention, improved capabilities are described for dynamic internet address assignment and policy compliance. The method may present the client requesting an IP address from a DHCP server, wherein the client may provide client information to the DHCP server; formulate the first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options by the DHCP server; provide a DHCP plug-in in the DHCP server; intercept the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options by the DHCP plug-in, wherein intercepting may stop the sending of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the client; send client information to a policy management facility through the DHCP plug-in; formulate the second multiple DHCP options in association with the policy management facility, wherein the second multiple DHCP options may be sent from the policy management facility to the DHCP plug-in; change the DHCP options in the DHCP server from the first IP assignment and first multiple DHCP options to a second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with the DHCP plug-in and sends the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options from the DHCP server to the client, wherein the client applies the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with a client security facility.

In embodiments of the present invention, improved capabilities are described for dynamic internet address assignment and policy compliance. The method may presents the client requesting an IP address from the DHCP server, wherein the client may provide client information to the DHCP server; formulate the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options by the DHCP server; provide the DHCP plug-in in the DHCP server, wherein the DHCP plug-in acts as an application server client to an application server; intercept the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options by the DHCP plug-in, wherein intercepting stops the sending of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the client; send client information from the DHCP plug-in to the application server; send client information from the application server to a policy management facility; formulate a second multiple DHCP options in association with the policy management facility, wherein the second multiple DHCP options is sent from the policy management facility to the DHCP plug-in through the application server; change the DHCP options in the DHCP server from the first IP assignment and first multiple DHCP options to a second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with the DHCP plug-in; and send the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options from the DHCP server to the client, wherein the client applies the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with a client security facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention and the following detailed description of certain embodiments thereof may be understood by reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of the threat management facility providing protection to an enterprise against a plurality of threats.

FIG. 2 shows a process flow embodiment for dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance.

FIG. 3 shows a process flow embodiment for dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance without a DHCP plug-in.

FIG. 4 shows a process flow embodiment for dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance by adding a DHCP plug-in.

FIG. 5 shows a process flow embodiment for dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance by adding a DHCP plug-in and application server.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art and are encompassed herein.

All documents referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An aspect of the present invention relates to corporate policy management and their implementation through a threat management facility 100. As will be explained in more detail below, a threat management facility 100 is used to protect computer assets from many threats, both computer generated threats and user generated threats. The threat management facility 100 is multi-dimensional in that it is designed to protect corporate assets from a variety of threats and it is adapted to learn about threats in one dimension (e.g. worm detection) and apply the knowledge in another dimension (e.g. spam detection). Corporate policy management is one of the dimensions for which the threat management facility can control. The corporation may institute a policy that prevents certain people (e.g. employees, groups of employees, types of employees, guest of the corporation, etc.) from accessing certain types of computer programs. For example, the corporation may elect to prevent its accounting department from using a particular version of an instant messaging service or all such services. In this example, the policy management facility 112 may be used to update the policies of all corporate computing assets with a proper policy control facility or it may update a select few. By using the threat management facility 100 to facilitate the setting, updating and control of such policies the corporation only needs to be concerned with keeping the threat management facility 100 up to date on such policies. The threat management facility 100 can take care of updating all of the other corporate computing assets.

It should be understood that the threat management facility 100 may provide multiple services and policy management may be offered as one of the services. We will now turn to a description of the threat management system 100.

Over recent years, malware has become a major problem across the internet 154. From both technical and user perspectives the categorization of a specific threat type, such as whether it is a virus, worm, spam, phishing exploration, spyware, adware, or the like, is becoming reduced in significance. The threat, no matter how it's categorized, may need to be stopped at all points of the enterprise facility 102, including laptop, desktop, server facility 142, gateway, and the like. Similarly, there may be less and less benefit to the user in having different solutions for known and unknown threats. As such, a consolidated threat management facility 100 may need to be applied to the same set of technologies and capabilities for all threats. The threat management facility 100 may provide a single agent on the desktop, and a single scan of any suspect file. This approach may eliminate the inevitable overlaps and gaps in protection caused by treating viruses and spyware as separate problems, while simultaneously simplifying administration and minimizing desktop load. As the number and range of types of threats has increased, so may have the level of connectivity available to all IT users. This may have lead to a rapid increase in the speed at which threats may move. Today, an unprotected PC connected to the internet 154 may be infected quickly, say within 10 minutes, which may require acceleration for the delivery of threat protection. Where once, monthly updates may have been sufficient, the threat management facility 100 may automatically and seamlessly update its product set against spam and virus threats quickly, for instance, every five minutes, every minute, continuously, or the like. Analysis and testing may be increasingly automated, and also may be performed more frequently; for instance, it may be completed in 15 minutes, and may do so without compromising quality. The threat management facility 100 may also extend techniques that may have been developed for virus and malware protection, and provide them to enterprise facility 102 network administrators to better control their environments. In addition to stopping malicious code, the threat management facility 100 may provide policy management that may be able to control legitimate applications, such as VoIP, instant messaging, peer-to-peer file-sharing, and the like, that may undermine productivity and network performance within the enterprise facility 102.

The threat management facility 100 may provide an enterprise facility 102 protection from computer-based malware, including viruses, spyware, adware, Trojans, intrusion, spam, policy abuse, uncontrolled access, and the like, where the enterprise facility 102 may be any entity with a networked computer-based infrastructure. In an embodiment, FIG. 1 may depict a block diagram of the threat management facility providing protection to an enterprise against a plurality of threats. The enterprise facility 102 may be corporate, commercial, educational, governmental, or the like, and the enterprise facility's 102 computer network may be distributed amongst a plurality of facilities, and in a plurality of geographical locations. The threat management facility 100 may include a plurality of functions, such as security management facility 122, policy management facility 112, update facility 120, definitions facility 114, network access rules facility 124, remedial action facility 128, detection techniques facility 130, testing facility 118, threat research facility 132, and the like. In embodiments, the threat protection provided by the threat management facility 100 may extend beyond the network boundaries of the enterprise facility 102 to include enterprise facility 102 client facility's 144 that have moved into network connectivity not directly associated or controlled by the enterprise facility 102. Threats to enterprise facility 102 client facilities 144 may come from a plurality of sources, such as from network threats 104, physical proximity threats 110, secondary location threats 108, and the like. In embodiments, the threat management facility 100 may provide an enterprise facility 102 protection from a plurality of threats to multiplatform computer resources in a plurality of locations and network configurations, with an integrated system approach.

In embodiments, the threat management facility 100 may be provided as a stand-alone solution. In other embodiments, the threat management facility 100 may be integrated into a third-party product. An application programming interface (e.g. a source code interface) may be provided such that the threat management facility 100 may be integrated. For instance, the threat management facility 100 may be stand-alone in that it provides direct threat protection to an enterprise or computer resource, where protection is subscribed to directly with the threat management facility 100. Alternatively, the threat management facility may offer protection indirectly, through a third-party product, where an enterprise may subscribe to services through the third-party product, and threat protection to the enterprise may be provided by the threat management facility 100 through the third-party product.

The security management facility 122 may include a plurality of elements that provide protection from malware to enterprise facility 102 computer resources, including endpoint security and control, email security and control, web security and control, control of unauthorized users, control of guest and non-compliant computers, and the like. The security management facility 122 may be a software application that may provide malicious code and malicious application protection to a client facility 144 computing resource. The security management facility 122 may have the ability to scan the client facility 144 files for malicious code, remove or quarantine certain applications and files, prevent certain actions, perform remedial actions and perform other security measures. In embodiments, scanning the client facility 144 may include scanning some or all of the files stored to the client facility 144 on a periodic basis, may scan applications once the application has been requested to execute, may scan files as the files are transmitted to or from the client facility 144, or the like. The scanning of the applications and files may be to detect known malicious code or known unwanted applications. In an embodiment, new malicious code and unwanted applications may be continually developed and distributed, and updates to the known code database may be provided on a periodic basis, on a demand basis, on an alert basis, or the like.

In an embodiment, the security management facility 122 may provide for email security and control, where security management may help to eliminate spam, viruses, spyware and phishing, control of email content, and the like. The security management facilities 122 email security and control may protect against inbound and outbound threats, protect email infrastructure, prevent data leakage, provide spam filtering, and the like. In an embodiment, security management facility 122 may provide for web security and control, where security management may help to detect or block viruses, spyware, malware, unwanted applications, help control web browsing, and the like, which may provide comprehensive web access control enabling safe, productive web browsing. Web security and control may provide internet use policies, reporting on suspect devices, security and content filtering, active monitoring of network traffic, URL filtering, and the like. In an embodiment, the security management facility 122 may provide for network access control, which may provide control over network connections. Network control may stop unauthorized, guest, or non-compliant systems from accessing networks, and may control network traffic that may not be bypassed from the client level. In addition, network access control may control access to virtual private networks (VPN), where VPNs may be a communications network tunneled through another network, establishing a logical connection acting as a virtual network. In embodiments, a VPN may be treated in the same manner as a physical network.

In an embodiment, the security management facility 122 may provide for host intrusion prevention through behavioral based protection, which may guard against unknown threats by analyzing behavior before software code executes. Behavioral based protection may monitor code when it runs and intervene if the code is deemed to be suspicious or malicious. Advantages of behavioral based protection over runtime protection may include code being prevented from running, whereas runtime protection may only interrupt code that has already partly executed; behavioral protection may identify malicious code at the gateway or on the file servers and deletes it before reaching end-point computers; and the like.

In an embodiment, the security management facility 122 may provide for reputation filtering, which may target or identify sources of known malware. For instance, reputation filtering may include lists of URLs of known sources of malware or known suspicious IP addresses, or domains, say for spam, that when detected may invoke an action by the threat management facility 100, such as dropping them immediately. By dropping the source before any interaction can initiate, potential threat sources may be thwarted before any exchange of data can be made.

In embodiments, information may be sent from the enterprise back to a third party, a vendor, or the like, which may lead to improved performance of the threat management facility 100. For example, the types, times, and number of virus interactions that a client experiences may provide useful information for the preventions of future virus threats. This type of feedback may be useful for any aspect of threat detection. Feedback of information may also be associated with behaviors of individuals within the enterprise, such as being associated with most common violations of policy, network access, unauthorized application loading, unauthorized external device use, and the like. In embodiments, this type of information feedback may enable the evaluation or profiling of client actions that are violations of policy that may provide a predictive model for the improvement of enterprise policies.

In an embodiment, the security management facility 122 may provide for the overall security of the enterprise facility 102 network or set of enterprise facility 102 networks, may provide updates of malicious code information to the enterprise facility 102 network, and associated client facilities 144. The updates may be a planned update, an update in reaction to a threat notice, an update in reaction to a request for an update, an update based on a search of known malicious code information, or the like. The administration facility 134 may provide control over the security management facility 122 when updates are performed. The updates may be automatically transmitted without an administration facility's 134 direct control, manually transmitted by the administration facility 134, or the like. The security management facility 122 may include the management of receiving malicious code descriptions from a provider, distribution of malicious code descriptions to enterprise facility 102 networks, distribution of malicious code descriptions to client facilities 144, or the like. In an embodiment, the management of malicious code information may be provided to the enterprise facility's 102 network, where the enterprise facility's 102 network may provide the malicious code information through the enterprise facility's 102 network distribution system.

The threat management facility 100 may provide policy management facility 112 that may be able to block non-malicious applications, such as VoIP 164, instant messaging 162, peer-to-peer file-sharing, and the like, that may undermine productivity and network performance within the enterprise facility 102. The policy management facility 112 may be a set of rules or policies that may indicate enterprise facility 102 access permissions for the client facility 144, such as access permissions associated with the network, applications, external computer devices, and the like. The policy management facility 112 may include a database, a text file, a combination of databases and text files, or the like. In an embodiment, a policy database may be a block list, a black list, an allowed list, a white list, or the like that may provide a list of enterprise facility 102 external network locations/applications that may or may not be accessed by the client facility 144. The policy management facility 112 may include rules that may be interpreted with respect to an enterprise facility 102 network access request to determine if the request should be allowed. The rules may provide a generic rule for the type of access that may be granted; the rules may be related to the policies of an enterprise facility 102 for access rights for the enterprise facility's 102 client facility 144. For example, there may be a rule that does not permit access to sporting websites. When a website is requested by the client facility 144, a security facility may access the rules within a policy facility to determine if the requested access is related to a sporting website. In an embodiment, the security facility may analyze the requested website to determine if the website matches with any of the policy facility rules.

The policy management facility 112 may be similar to the security management facility 122 but with the distribution of enterprise facility 102 wide access rules and policies that may maintain control of the access of client facility 144 to enterprise facility 102 network resources. The policies may be defined for application type, subset of application capabilities, organization hierarchy, computer facility type, user type, network location, time of day, connection type, or the like. Policies may be maintained by the administration facility 134, through the threat management facility 100, in association with a third party, or the like. For example, a policy may restrict IM 162 activity to only support personnel for communicating with customers. This may allow communication for departments requiring access, but may maintain the network bandwidth for other activities by restricting the use of IM 162 to only the personnel that need access to IM 162 in support of the enterprise facility 102. In an embodiment, the policy management facility 112 may be a standalone application, may be part of the policy management facility 112 network server facility 142, may be part of the enterprise facility 102 network, may be part of the client facility 144, or the like.

In embodiments, the threat management facility 100 may provide configuration management, which may be similar to policy management, but may specifically examine the configuration set of applications, operating systems, hardware, and the like, and managing changes to their configurations. Assessment of a configuration may be made against a standard configuration policy, detection of configuration changes, remediation of improper configuration, application of new configurations, and the like. An enterprise may keep a set of standard configuration rules and policies which may represent the desired state of the device. For example, a client firewall may be running and installed, but in the disabled state, where remediation may be to enable the firewall. In another example, the enterprise may set a rule that disallows the use of USB disks, and sends a configuration change to all clients, which turns off USB drive access via a registry.

In embodiments, the threat management facility 100 may also provide for the removal of applications that may interfere with the operation of the threat management facility 100, such as competitor products that may also be attempting similar threat management functions. The removal of such products may be initiated automatically whenever such products are detected. In the case where such applications are services are provided indirectly through a third-party product, the application may be suspended until action is taken to remove or disable the third-party product's protection facility.

Threat management against a sometimes quickly evolving malware environment may require timely updates, and the update management facility 120 may be provided by the threat management facility 100.enterprise facility 102. In addition, a policy management facility 112 may also require update management (e.g. as provided by the update facility 120 herein described), as the enterprise facility 102 requirements for policies change enterprise facility 102 server facility 142 enterprise facility 102 client facility 144 server facility 142 enterprise facility 102. The update management for the security facility 122 and policy management facility 112 may be provided directly by the threat management facility 100, such as by a hosted system or in conjunction with the administration facility 134. In embodiments, the threat management facility 100 may provide for patch management, where a patch may be an update to an operating system, an application, a system tool, or the like, where one of the reasons for the patch is to reduce vulnerability to threats.

In embodiments, the security facility 122 and policy management facility 112 may push information to the enterprise facility 102 network and/or client facility 144, the enterprise facility 102 network and/or client facility 144 may pull information from the security facility 122 and policy management facility 112 network server facilities 142, there may be a combination of pushing and pulling of information between the security facility 122 and the policy management facility 112 network servers 142, enterprise facility 102 network, and client facilities 144, or the like. For example, the enterprise facility 102 network and/or client facility 144 may pull information from the security facility 122 and policy management facility 112 network server facility 142 may request the information using the security facility 122 and policy management facility 112 update module; the request may be based on a certain time period, by a certain time, by a date, on demand, or the like. In another example, the security facility 122 and policy management facility 112 network servers 142 may push the information to the enterprise facility's 102 network and/or client facility 144 by providing notification that there are updates available for download and then transmitting the information. The combination of the security management 122 network server facility 142 and security update module may function substantially the same as the policy management facility 112 network server and policy update module by providing information to the enterprise facility 102 network and the client facility 144 in a push or pull method. In an embodiment, the policy management facility 112 and the security facility 122 management update modules may work in concert to provide all the needed information to the enterprise facility's 102 network and/or client facility 144 for control of application execution. In an embodiment, the policy update module and security update module may be combined into a single update module.

As threats are identified and characterized, the threat management facility 100 may create definition updates that may be used to allow the threat management facility 100 to detect and remediate the latest malicious software, unwanted applications, configuration and policy changes, and the like. The threat definition facility 114 may contain threat identification updates, also referred to as definition files. A definition file may be a virus identity file that may include definitions of known or potential malicious code. The IDE definition files may provide information that may identify malicious code within files, applications, or the like. The definition files may be accessed by security management facility 122 when scanning files or applications within the client facility 144 for the determination of malicious code that may be within the file or application. The definition files may contain a number of commands, definitions, or instructions, to be parsed and acted upon, or the like. In embodiments, the client facility 144 may be updated with new definition files periodically to provide the client facility 144 with the most recent malicious code definitions; the updating may be performed on a set time period, may be updated on demand from the client facility 144, may be updated on demand from the network, may be updated on a received malicious code alert, or the like. In an embodiment, the client facility 144 may request an update to the definition files from an update facility 120 within the network, may request updated definition files from a computing facility external to the network, updated definition files may be provided to the client facility 114 from within the network, definition files may be provided to the client facility 144 from an external computing facility from an external network, or the like.

In an embodiment, a definition management facility 114 may provide for the timely updates of definition files information to the network, client facilities 144, and the like. New and altered malicious code and malicious applications may be continually created and distributed to networks worldwide. The definition files that maintain the definitions of the malicious code and malicious application information for the protection of the networks and client facilities 144 may need continual updating to provide continual defense of the network and client facility 144 from the malicious code and malicious applications. The definition files management may provide for automatic and manual methods of updating the definition files. In embodiments, the network may receive definition files and distribute the definition files to the network client facilities 144, the client facilities 144 may receive the definition files directly, or the network and client facilities 144 may both receive the definition files, or the like. In an embodiment, the definition files may be updated on a fixed periodic basis, on demand by the network and/or the client facility 144, as a result of an alert of a new malicious code or malicious application, or the like. In an embodiment, the definition files may be released as a supplemental file to an existing definition files to provide for rapid updating of the definition files.

In a similar manner, the security management facility 122 may be used to scan an outgoing file and verify that the outgoing file is permitted to be transmitted per the enterprise facility 102 rules and policies. By checking outgoing files, the security management facility 122 may be able discover malicious code infected files that were not detected as incoming files as a result of the client facility 144 having been updated with either new definition files or policy management facility 112 information. The definition files may discover the malicious code infected file by having received updates of developing malicious code from the administration facility 134, updates from a definition files provider, or the like. The policy management facility 112 may discover the malicious code infected file by having received new updates from the administration facility 134, from a rules provider, or the like.

The threat management facility 100 may provide for a way to control access to the enterprise facility 102 networks. For instance, the enterprise facility 102 may want to restrict access to certain applications, networks, files, printers, servers, databases, or the like. In addition, the enterprise facility 102 may want to restrict user access under certain conditions, such as the user's location, usage history, need to know, job position, connection type, time of day, method of authentication, client-system configuration, or the like. Network access rules may be developed by the enterprise facility 102, or pre-packaged by a supplier, and managed by the threat management facility 100 in conjunction with the administration facility 134. Network access rules and control may be responsible for determining if a client facility 144 application should be granted access to a requested network location. The network location may be on the same network as the facility or may be on another network. In an embodiment, the network access control may verify access rights for client facilities 144 from within the network or may verify access rights of computer facilities from external networks. When network access for a client facility 144 is denied, the network access control may send an information file to the client facility 144, the information file may contain data or commands that may provide instructions for the remedial action facility 128. The information sent by the network access facility 124 control may be a data file. The data file may contain a number of commands, definitions, instructions, or commands to be parsed and acted upon through the remedial action facility 128, or the like. The information sent by the network access facility 124 control may be a command or command file that the remedial action facility 128 may access and take action upon.

In an embodiment, the network access rules 124 may provide an information store to be accessed by the network access control. The network access rules facility 124 may include databases such as a block list, a black list, an allowed list, a white list, an unacceptable network site database, an acceptable network site database, a network site reputation database, or the like of network access locations that may or may not be accessed by the client facility 144. Additionally, the network access rules facility 124 may incorporate rule evaluation; the rule evaluation may parse network access requests and apply the parsed information to network access rules. The network access rule facility 124 may have a generic set of rules that may be in support of an enterprise facility's 102 network access policies, such as denying access to certain types of websites 158, controlling instant messenger 162 accesses, or the like. Rule evaluation may include regular expression rule evaluation, or other rule evaluation method for interpreting the network access request and comparing the interpretation to the established rules for network access. In an embodiment, the network access rules facility 124 may receive a rules evaluation request from the network access control and may return the rules evaluation to the network access control.

Similar to the threat definitions facility 114, the network access rule facility 124 may provide updated rules and policies to the network access rules facility 124. The network access rules facility 124 may be maintained by the network administration facility 134 using the network access rules facility 124 management. In an embodiment, the network administration facility 134 may be able to maintain a set of access rules manually by adding rules, changing rules, deleting rules, or the like. Additionally, the administration facility 134 may be able to retrieve predefined rule sets from a provider that may provide a set of rules to be applied to an entire enterprise facility 102. The network administration facility 134 may be able to modify the predefined rules as needed for a particular enterprise facility 102 using the network access rules facility 124 management.

When a threat or policy violation is detected by the threat management facility 100, the threat management facility 100 may provide for a remedial action facility 128. Remedial action may take a plurality of forms, such as terminating or modifying an ongoing process or interaction, sending a warning to a client or administration facility 134 of an ongoing process or interaction, executing a program or application to remediate against a threat or violation, record interactions for subsequent evaluation, or the like. Remedial action may be associated with an application that responds to information that a client facility 144 network access request has been denied. In an embodiment, when the data file is received, remedial action may parse the data file, interpret the various aspects of the data file, and act on the parsed data file information to determine actions to be taken on an application requesting access to a denied network location. In an embodiment, when the data file is received, remedial action may access the threat definitions to parse the data file and determine an action to be taken on an application requesting access to a denied network location. In an embodiment, the information received from the facility may be a command or a command file. The remedial action facility may carry out any commands that are received or parsed from a data file from the facility without performing any interpretation of the commands. In an embodiment, the remedial action facility may interact with the received information and may perform various actions on a client requesting access to a denied network location. The action may be one or more of continuing to block all requests to a denied network location, a malicious code scan on the application, a malicious code scan on the client facility 144, quarantine of the application, terminating the application, isolation of the application, isolation of the client facility 144 to a location within the network that restricts network access, blocking a network access port from a client facility 144, reporting the application to a administration facility 134, or the like.

Remedial action may be provided as a result of a detection of a threat or violation. The detection techniques facility 130 may include monitoring the enterprise facility 102 network or end-point devices, such as by monitoring streaming data through the gateway, across the network, through routers and hubs, and the like. The detection techniques facility 130 may include monitoring activity and stored files on computing facilities, such as on server facilities 142, desktop computers, laptop computers, other mobile computing devices, and the like. Detection techniques, such as scanning a computer's stored files, may provide the capability of checking files for stored threats, either in the active or passive state. Detection techniques, such as streaming file management, may provide the capability of checking files received at the network, gateway facility, client facility 144, and the like. This may provide the capability of not allowing a streaming file or portions of the streaming file containing malicious code from entering the client facility 144, gateway facility, or network. In an embodiment, the streaming file may be broken into blocks of information, and a plurality of virus identities may be used to check each of the blocks of information for malicious code. In an embodiment, any blocks that are not determined to be clear of malicious code may not be delivered to the client facility 144, gateway facility, or network.

Verifying that the threat management facility 100 is detecting threats and violations to established policy, may require the ability to test the system, either at the system level or for a particular computing component. The testing facility 118 may allow the administration facility 134 to coordinate the testing of the security configurations of client facility 144 computing facilities on a network. The administration facility 134 may be able to send test files to a set of client facility 144 computing facilities to test the ability of the client facility 144 to determine acceptability of the test file. After the test file has been transmitted, a recording facility may record the actions taken by the client facility 144 in reaction to the test file. The recording facility may aggregate the testing information from the client facility 144 and report the testing information to the administration facility 134. The administration facility 134 may be able to determine the level of preparedness of the client facility 144 computing facilities by the reported information. Remedial action may be taken for any of the client facility 144 computing facilities as determined by the administration facility 134; remedial action may be taken by the administration facility 134 or by the user of the client facility 144.

The threat research facility 132 may provide a continuously ongoing effort to maintain the threat protection capabilities of the threat management facility 100 in light of continuous generation of new or evolved forms of malware. Threat research may include researchers and analysts working on known and emerging malware, such as viruses, rootkits a spyware, as well as other computer threats such as phishing, spam, scams, and the like. In embodiments, through threat research, the threat management facility 100 may be able to provide swift, global responses to the latest threats.

The threat management facility 100 may provide threat protection to the enterprise facility 102, where the enterprise facility 102 may include a plurality of networked components, such as client facility 144, server facility 142, a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server 204, an applications server 210, administration facility 134, firewall 138, gateway, hubs 148, routers, threat management appliance 140, desktop users, mobile users, and the like. In embodiments, it may be the end-point computer security facility 152, located on a computer's desktop, which may provide threat protection to a user, and associated enterprise facility 102. The end-point computer security facility 152 may be an application loaded onto the computer platform or computer support component, where the application may accommodate the plurality of computer platforms and/or functional requirements of the component. For instance, a client facility 144 computer may be one of a plurality of computer platforms, such as Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and the like, where the end-point computer security facility 152 may be adapted to the specific platform, while maintaining a uniform product and product services across platforms. Additionally, components may have different functions to serve within the enterprise facility's 102 networked computer-based infrastructure. For instance, computer support components provided as hubs 148, routers, server facility 142, firewalls 138, and the like, may require unique security application software to protect their portion of the system infrastructure, while providing an element in an integrated threat management system that extends out beyond the threat management facility 100 to incorporate all computer resources under its protection.

The enterprise facility 102 may include a plurality of client facility 144 computing platforms on which the end-point computer security facility 152 is adapted. A client facility 144 computing platform may be a computer system that is able to access a service on another computer, such as a server facility 142, via a network. This client facility 144 server facility 142 model may apply to a plurality of networked applications, such as a client facility 144 connecting to an enterprise facility 102 application server facility 142, a web browser client facility 144 connecting to a web server facility 142, an e-mail client facility 144 retrieving e-mail from an internet 154 service provider's mail storage servers 142, and the like. In embodiments, traditional large client facility 144 applications may be switched to websites, which may increase the browser's role as a client facility 144. Clients 144 may be classified as a function of the extent to which they perform their own processing. For instance, client facilities 144 are sometimes classified as a fat client facility 144 or thin client facility 144. The fat client facility 144, also known as a thick client facility 144 or rich client facility 144, may be a client facility 144 that performs the bulk of data processing operations itself, and does not necessarily rely on the server facility 142. The fat client facility 144 may be most common in the form of a personal computer, where the personal computer may operate independent of any server facility 142. Programming environments for fat clients 144 may include Curl, Delphi, Droplets, Java, win32, X11, and the like. Thin clients 144 may offer minimal processing capabilities, for instance, the thin client facility 144 may primarily provide a graphical user interface provided by an application server facility 142, which may perform the bulk of any required data processing. Programming environments for thin clients 144 may include JavaScript/AJAX, ASP, JSP, Ruby on Rails, Python's Django, PHP, and the like. The client facility 144 may also be a mix of the two, such as processing data locally, but relying on a server facility 142 for data storage. As a result, this hybrid client facility 144 may provide benefits from both the fat client facility 144 type, such as multimedia support and high performance, and the thin client facility 144 type, such as high manageability and flexibility. In embodiments, the threat management facility 100, and associated end-point computer security facility 152, may provide seamless threat protection to the plurality of clients 144, and client facility 144 types, across the enterprise facility 102.

The enterprise facility 102 may include a plurality of server facility 142, such as application servers 142, communications servers 142, file servers 142, database servers 142, proxy servers 142, mail servers 142, fax servers 142, game servers 142, web servers 142, and the like. A server facility 142, which may also be referred to as a server facility 142 application, server facility 142 operating system, server facility 142 computer, or the like, may be an application program or operating system that accepts client facility 144 connections in order to service requests from clients 144. The server facility 142 application may run on the same computer as the client facility 144 using it, or the server facility 142 and the client facility 144 may be running on different computers and communicating across the network. Server facility 142 applications may be divided among server facility 142 computers, with the dividing depending upon the workload. For instance, under light load conditions all server facility 142 applications may run on a single computer and under heavy load conditions a single server facility 142 application may run on multiple computers. In embodiments, the threat management facility 100 may provide threat protection to server facilities 142 within the enterprise facility 102 as load conditions and application changes are made.

A server facility 142 may also be an appliance facility 140, where the appliance facility 140 provides specific services onto the network. Though the appliance facility 140 is a server facility 142 computer, that may be loaded with a server facility 142 operating system and server facility 142 application, the enterprise facility 102 user may not need to configure it, as the configuration may have been performed by a third party. In an embodiment, an enterprise facility 102 appliance may be a server facility 142 appliance that has been configured and adapted for use with the threat management facility 100, and located within the facilities of the enterprise facility 102. The enterprise facility's 102 threat management appliance may enable the enterprise facility 102 to administer an on-site local managed threat protection configuration, where the administration facility 134 may access the threat resources through an interface, such as a web portal. In an alternate embodiment, the enterprise facility 102 may be managed remotely from a third party, vendor, or the like, without an appliance facility 140 located within the enterprise facility 102. In this instance, the appliance functionality may be a shared hardware product between pluralities of enterprises 102. In embodiments, the appliance facility 140 may be located at the enterprise facility 102, where the enterprise facility 102 maintains a degree of control. In embodiments, a hosted service may be provided, where the appliance 140 may still be an on-site black box to the enterprise facility 102, physically placed there because of infrastructure requirements, but managed by a third party, vendor, or the like.

Simple server facility 142 appliances may also be utilized across the enterprise facility's 102 network infrastructure, such as switches, routers, wireless routers, hubs 148, gateways, print servers 142, net modems, and the like. These simple server facility appliances may not require configuration by the enterprise facility 102, but may require protection from threats via an end-point computer security facility 152. These appliances may provide interconnection services within the enterprise facility 102 network, and therefore may advance the spread of a threat if not properly protected.

One way for a client facility 144 to be protected from threats from within the enterprise facility 102 network may be a personal firewall. A personal firewall may be an application that controls network traffic to and from a client, permitting or denying communications based on a security policy. Personal firewalls may be designed for use by end-users, which may result in protection for only the computer on which it's installed. Personal firewalls may be able to control network traffic by providing prompts each time a connection is attempted and adapting security policy accordingly. Personal firewalls may also provide some level of intrusion detection, which may allow the software to terminate or block connectivity where it suspects an intrusion is being attempted. Other features that may be provided by a personal firewall may include alerts about outgoing connection attempts, control of program access to networks, hiding the client from port scans by not responding to unsolicited network traffic, monitoring of applications that may be listening for incoming connections, monitoring and regulation of incoming and outgoing network traffic, prevention of unwanted network traffic from installed applications, reporting applications that make connection attempts, reporting destination servers with which applications may be attempting communications, and the like. In embodiments, the personal firewall may be provided by the treat management facility 100.

Another important component that may be protected by an end-point computer security facility 152 is a network firewall facility 138, which may be a hardware or software device that may be configured to permit, deny, or proxy data through a computer network that has different levels of trust in its source of data. For instance, an internal enterprise facility 102 network may have a high level of trust, because the source of all data has been sourced from within the enterprise facility 102. An example of a low level of trust is the Internet 154, because the source of data may be unknown. A zone with an intermediate trust level, situated between the Internet 154 and a trusted internal network, may be referred to as a “perimeter network”. Since firewall facilities 138 represent boundaries between threat levels, the end-point computer security facility 152 associated with the firewall facility 138 may provide resources that may control the flow of threats at this enterprise facility 102 network entry point. Firewall facilities 138, and associated end-point computer security facility 152, may also be associated with a network node that may be equipped for interfacing between networks that use different protocols. In embodiments, the end-point computer security facility 152 may provide threat protection in a plurality of network infrastructure locations, such as at the enterprise facility 102 network entry point, i.e. the firewall facility 138 or gateway; at the server facility 142; at distribution points within the network, i.e. the routers and hubs 148; at the desktop of client facility 144 computers; and the like. In embodiments, the most effective location for threat detection may be at the user's computer desktop end-point computer security facility 152.

The interface between the threat management facility 100 and the enterprise facility 102, and through the appliance facility 140 to embedded end-point computer security facilities, may include a set of tools that may be the same for all enterprise implementations, but allow each enterprise to implement different controls. In embodiments, these controls may include both automatic actions and managed actions. Automatic actions may include downloads of the end-point computer security facility 152 to components of the enterprise facility 102, downloads of updates to existing end-point computer security facilities of the enterprise facility 102, uploaded network interaction requests from enterprise facility 102 components to the threat management facility 100, and the like. In embodiments, automatic interactions between the enterprise facility 102 and the threat management facility 100 may be configured by the threat management facility 100 and an administration facility 134 in the enterprise facility 102. The administration facility 134 may configure policy rules that determine interactions, such as developing rules for accessing applications, as in who is authorized and when applications may be used; establishing rules for ethical behavior and activities; rules governing the use of entertainment software such as games, or personal use software such as IM 162 and VoIP 164; rules for determining access to enterprise facility 102 computing resources, including authentication, levels of access, risk assessment, and usage history tracking; rules for when an action is not allowed, such as whether an action is completely deigned or just modified in its execution; and the like. The administration facility 134 may also establish license management, which in turn may further determine interactions associated with a licensed application. In embodiments, interactions between the threat management facility 100 and the enterprise facility 102 may provide threat protection to the enterprise facility 102 by managing the flow of network data into and out of the enterprise facility 102 through automatic actions that may be configured by the threat management facility 100 or the administration facility 134.

Client facilities 144 within the enterprise facility 102 may be connected to the enterprise facility 102 network by way of wired network facilities 148 or wireless network facilities 150. Client facilities 144 connected to the enterprise facility 102 network via a wired facility 148 or wireless facility 150 may receive similar protection, as both connection types are ultimately connected to the same enterprise facility 102 network, with the same end-point computer security facility 152, and the same threat protected enterprise facility 102 environment. Mobile wireless facility 150 clients 144, because of their ability to connect to any wireless 150 network access point, may connect to the internet 154 outside the enterprise facility 102, and therefore outside the threat-protected environment of the enterprise facility 102. In this instance the mobile client facility 144, if not for the presence of the end-point computer security facility 152 may experience a malware attack or perform actions counter to enterprise facility 102 established policies. In addition, there may be a plurality of ways for the threat management facility 100 to protect the out-of-enterprise facility 102 mobile client facility 144 that has an embedded end-point computer security facility 152, such as by providing URL filtering in personal routers, using a web appliance as a DNS proxy, or the like. Mobile client facilities 144 that are components of the enterprise facility 102 but temporarily outside connectivity with the enterprise facility 102 network, may be provided with the same threat protection and policy control as client facilities 144 inside the enterprise facility 102. In addition, mobile client facilities 144 may receive the same interactions to and from the threat management facility 100 as client facilities 144 inside the enterprise facility 102, where mobile client facilities 144 may be considered a virtual extension of the enterprise facility 102, receiving all the same services via their embedded end-point computer security facility 152.

Interactions between the threat management facility 100 and the components of the enterprise facility 102, including mobile client facility 144 extensions of the enterprise facility 102, may ultimately be connected through the internet 154. Threat management facility 100 downloads and upgrades to the enterprise facility 102 may be passed from the firewalled networks of the threat management facility 100 through to the end-point computer security facility 152 equipped components of the enterprise facility 102. In turn the end-point computer security facility 152 components of the enterprise facility 102 may upload policy and access requests back across the internet 154 and through to the threat management facility 100. The Internet 154 however, is also the path through which threats may be transmitted from their source. These network threats may include threats from a plurality of sources, including websites 158, e-mail 160, IM 162, VoIP 164, application software, and the like. These threats may attempt to attack a mobile enterprise facility 102 client facility 144 equipped with an end-point computer security facility 152, but in embodiments, as long as the mobile client facility 144 is embedded with an end-point computer security facility 152, as described above, threats may have no better success than if the mobile client facility 144 where inside the enterprise facility 102.

However, if the mobile client facility 144 where to attempt to connect into an unprotected connection point, such as at a secondary location 108 that is not a part of the enterprise facility 102, the mobile client facility 144 may be required to request network interactions through the threat management facility 100, where contacting the threat management facility 100 may be performed prior to any other network action. In embodiments, the client facility's 144 end-point computer security facility 152 may manage actions in unprotected network environments such as when the client facility 144 is in a secondary location 108 or connecting wirelessly 150 to a non-enterprise facility 102 wireless internet 154 connection, where the end-point computer security facility 152 may dictate what actions are allowed, blocked, modified, or the like. For instance, if the client facility's 144 end-point computer security facility 152 is unable to establish a secured connection to the threat management facility 100, the end-point computer security facility 152 may inform the user of such, and recommend that the connection not be made. In the instance when the user chooses to connect despite the recommendation, the end-point computer security facility 152 may perform specific actions during or after the unprotected connection is made, including running scans during the connection period, running scans after the connection is terminated, storing interactions for subsequent threat and policy evaluation, contacting the threat management facility 100 upon first instance of a secured connection for further actions and or scanning, restricting access to network and local resources, or the like. In embodiments, the end-point computer security facility 152 may perform specific actions to remediate possible threat incursions or policy violations during or after the unprotected connection.

The secondary location 108 may have no end-point computer security facilities 152 as a part of its computer components, such as its firewalls 138, servers 142, clients 144, hubs 148, wireless hubs 150, and the like. As a result, the computer components of the secondary location 108 may be open to threat attacks, and become potential sources of threats, as well as any mobile enterprise facility 102 clients 144 that may be connected to the secondary location's 108 network. In this instance, these computer components may now unknowingly spread a threat to other components connected to the network.

Some threats may not come directly from the Internet 154, such as from non-enterprise facility 102 controlled mobile devices that are physically brought into the enterprise facility 102 and connected to the enterprise facility 102 client facilities 144. The connection may be made from direct connection with the enterprise facility's 102 client facility 144, such as through a USB port, or in physical proximity with the enterprise facility's 102 client facility 144 such that a wireless facility 150 connection can be established, such as through a Bluetooth connection. These physical proximity threats 110 may be another mobile computing device, a portable memory storage device, a mobile communications device, or the like, such as CDs and DVDs 170, memory stick 174, flash drive 174, external hard drive, cell phone 178, PDAs 180, MP3 players, digital cameras, point-to-point devices, or the like. A physical proximity threat 110 may have been previously infiltrated by network threats while connected to an unprotected network connection outside the enterprise facility 102, and when connected to the enterprise facility 102 client facility 144, pose a threat. Because of their mobile nature, physical proximity threats 110 may infiltrate computing resources in any location, such as being physically brought into the enterprise facility 102 site, connected to an enterprise facility 102 client facility 144 while that client facility 144 is mobile, plugged into an unprotected client facility 144 at a secondary location 108, and the like. A mobile device, once connected to an unprotected computer resource, may become a physical proximity threat 110. In embodiments, the end-point computer security facility 152 may provide enterprise facility 102 computing resources with threat protection against physical proximity threats 110, for instance, through scanning the device prior to allowing data transfers, through security validation certificates, through establishing a safe zone within the enterprise facility 102 computing resource to transfer data into for evaluation, and the like.

Now that the overall system has been described, we turn towards a set of dynamic internet address assignment embodiments, where the assignment may be based on user identity and policy compliance. It should be understood that the following embodiments may be managed through a threat management facility 100 along with other services, such as those described herein.

In embodiments, the client 144 when connecting to a network, requests an internet protocol (IP) address from a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server 204. The responding DHCP server 204 may then assign an IP address to the client. The DHCP server 204 may also assign DHCP options to the client 144 that are necessary for the client 144 to operate on an IP network. The present invention may then intercept the assignment process, and intervene with the DHCP server 204 prior to the initially assigned IP address and the DHCP options being transmitted back to the client 144. This may be done in order to provide the opportunity to change the IP assignment and/or the DHCP options based on a policy, where the change may be based on user identity, policy compliance, and the like. Through the present invention, the network administrator 134 may be provided better control over the use and access of clients 144 and users to the network through a policy management facility 112. The present invention may thus increase the security of the network.

In embodiments, the present invention may facilitate the interception of the IP assignment process through software placed on the DHCP server 204A, often referred to as a software plug-in 208. This DHCP plug-in 208 may provide both a mechanism for interrupting the transmission of initially assigned IP address and DHCP options, and for a communications interface to the policy management facility 112. In embodiments, this communications interface may be made directly or indirectly, such as through a server 142, applications server 210, and the like. Through this interface, the DHCP plug-in 208 may provide client information to the policy management facility 134 that was gathered by the DHCP server 204 during the period when the client 144 was making the IP assignment request. Client information, such as information related to the user, compliance status, client configuration, and the like, may then be utilized by the policy management facility 112 to determine what network access parameters to grant to the client 144. In embodiments, the granting of network access parameters to the client 144, or the restriction thereof, may be provided through a selection of IP address and/or DHCP options, which when selected by the policy management facility 112 may be communicated back to the DHCP plug-in 208. Finally, the DHCP plug-in 208 may provide the new IP address and/or DHCP options to the DHCP server 204A, which may then change the initially assigned client IP address and/or DHCP options, to the new client IP address and/or DHCP options for transmission to the client 144. In embodiments, the changes may be only to the DHCP options, only to the IP address, to both the IP address and DHCP options, and the like. In embodiments, the changes to an IP address or DHCP option may be made by the DHCP plug-in 208 or DHCP server 204A as a result of communications from the policy management facility 112.

In embodiments, the client 144 may receive an IP address and DHCP options that may restrict a user's access to the network. For instance, the client user may be listed as part of an engineering department, and as a result their network access may be determined by what policy dictates access is to be for the engineering department, such as to engineering applications, engineering databases, technical search engines, design tools, and the like. Or, the client user may be listed as a part of a human resources department, and as a result their network access may be determined by what policy dictates access is to be for the human resources department, such as to personnel files, appraisal files, facility access lists, and the like. In another instance, the client user may be a top executive of the company, and as a result their network access may provide for open access to all network resources.

In embodiments, the client 144 may receive an IP address and DHCP options that may restrict the client 144 access to the network. For instance, the client 144 may be determined to be out of compliance with respect to the software licenses on the client 144, malware protection software, updates to software, and the like. If the client 144 is determined to be out of compliance, the IP address and DHCP options may be related to restricted network access, such as being in quarantine, restricted to only external access, disconnected from the network, and the like. In embodiments, if the client 144 is found to be within compliance, the client 144 may receive an IP address and DHCP options that provide normal network access relative to their user access privileges.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for a more secure network environment due the control of client network access enabled through established policies within the policy management facility 112.

Referring to FIG. 2 a process flow embodiment is shown for dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance. While describing FIG. 2, references may be made to FIG. 1. Further, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the process flow of FIG. 2 may be implemented in any other environment apart from FIG. 1. Further, it may be noted that the process flow may include some or all process blocks as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, at step 1, the client 144 may request an IP address from a DHCP server 204A. The client 144 may provide client information 202 to the DHCP server 204A. The client may include client information 202 and the security facility 152. Further it should be noted that a single client 144 is shown in FIG. 2. However, those skilled in the art would appreciate that one or more clients may be present.

In embodiments, the client request may be made when the client 144 initializes the network. The network may be a wired or wireless. In embodiments, the client 144 may request an IP address from the DHCP server 204A when connecting to the network for a first time. In embodiments, the client 144 may request the IP address from the DHCP server 204A during boot up. In embodiments, the client request may be made in association with a lease. In embodiment, the client request may be generated through a TCP/IP configured software resident on the client 144. In embodiments, the client request for the IP address may be made in association with a security threat detected by the client end-point security facility 152.

In embodiments, the DHCP server 204A may implement a protocol. The protocol may be used by the client 144 to obtain parameters necessary for the client 144 to operate on an internet protocol (IP) network. Further, in embodiments, the parameter may be an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, a lease, a TCP/IP configuration parameter, or some other type of parameter. In embodiments, the lease may be associated with the length of time for which an IP address may be allocated. Further, the lease may be renewed.

In embodiments, the client 144 may send a broadcast query on the network 154 requesting for parameters from the DHCP server 204A. In embodiments, the broadcast query may be associated with discovery about the available DHCP servers including the DHCP server 204A on the physical subnet. For example, the broadcast query may discover the DHCP server 204A or the DHCP server 204B. In embodiments, the client 144 may send the broadcast query when the client 144 performs network initialization. In embodiments, the client 144 may send the broadcast query when the client 144 boots up.

In embodiments, the DHCP server 204A may provide a dynamic allocation of the IP addresses. Further, the dynamic allocation may provide a range of IP addresses. The range of IP addresses may be assigned by the administrator 134. For example, the DHCP server 204A may provide IP addresses ranging from 202.12.12.100 to 202.12.12.176 that may be assigned by the network administrator. In embodiments, the dynamic allocation may utilize the lease. The lease may represent the time period for which the IP address may be valid.

In embodiments, the DHCP server 204A may manage multiple IP addresses. The IP addresses that may be managed by the DHCP server may be allocated. The allocation may be made by an internet assigned numbers authority. In embodiments, the allocation of IP address may be by a regional internet registry. In embodiments, the allocation of IP address may be by an enterprise administrator.

In embodiments, a unique IP address may be assigned to the network components of an IP network. For example, the client 144A may be allocated an IP address 202.123.11.110 the client 144B may be allocated IP address 202.123.11.111 and the like. The unique IP addresses assigned to the client 144A and the client 144B may enable the client 144A and the client 144B to communicate with each other. Further, those skilled in the art would appreciate that other network components may be assigned IP address that would be unique in the network and may allow them to communicate with other network components in the network. In embodiments, the IP address may be a unique IP address on the internet 154. In embodiments, the IP address may be for a specific network. For example, the unique IP may be for a LAN network. In embodiments, the IP address may be unique for an enterprise 102. In embodiments, the IP address may be private.

In embodiments, the client 144 may provide the client information 202 along with the request for an IP address to the DHCP server 204A. In embodiments, the client information 202 may be automatically provided to the DHCP server 204A along with client request for IP address. In embodiments, the client information 202 may be provided to the DHCP server 204A on request. Further, the DHCP server 204A may request for client information 202 whenever the request for IP address is made by the client 144. In embodiments, the client information 202 request may be made by the DHCP server 204A in association with the DHCP plug-in 208. In embodiments, the client information request may be made whenever the DHCP server request may be initiated by the DHCP-plug-in 208.

In embodiments, the client information 202 may be a MAC address, a time of day, a current location of the client, a user ID, a user name, an IP address requested by the client, a DHCP option requested by the client, a client capability, or some other type of client information. In embodiments, the client capability may be due to presence of a software application. In embodiments, the client capability may be a network access control capability.

In embodiments, the client information 202 may be associated with security vulnerability. In embodiments, the security vulnerability may be associated with malware security venerability. Further, the malware security vulnerability may be associated with the client 144 having no end-point security facility 152. The end-point computer security facility 152 may be the malware security software.

In embodiments, the malware security vulnerability may be associated with the client 144 having out of date end-point computer security facility 152. In embodiments, the malware security vulnerability may be associated with the client end-point security facility 152 that may detect a malware threat. In embodiments, the malware security vulnerability may be from the client end-point security facility 152 that may detect suspicious behavior.

In embodiments, the security vulnerability may be associated with a client end-point firewall. In embodiments, there may not be any client end-point firewall. In embodiments, the client end-point firewall may be improperly configured.

In embodiments, the client information may be software vulnerability. Further, the software vulnerability may be associated with a license. The license may be out of date. In embodiments, there may be no valid license agreement available with the client 144.

In embodiments, the software vulnerability may be associated with a registration. Further, the registration may be out of date. In embodiments, the registration may not be a valid registration. In embodiments, the software vulnerability may be an unauthorized software application that may be associated with the client 144.

In embodiments, the client information 202 may be a client configuration status. The client information status may be associated with the policy management facility 112. The policy management facility 112 may read the configuration status as an indication of policy compliance. In embodiments, the client information status may be associated with the client operating system. In embodiments, the client information status may be associated with the client end point security facility 152.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 2 a first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options may be formulated at the DHCP server 204A.

In embodiments, the multiple DHCP options associated with DHCP server 204A may be used to assign network configuration parameters. The configuration may be automatic. In embodiments, the configuration may be for IP hosts. In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be associated with full network access. In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be associated with normal network access. In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be associated with restricted access. The restricted access may provide external network access including an access to internet 154. In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be associated with isolating the client 144A from client 144B. The isolated client 144A may be associated with quarantine.

In embodiments, the network configuration parameter may be a subnet mask, a router, a time server, a name server, a domain server, a log server, a quotes server, a LPR server, an impress server, a RLP server, a hostname, a domain name, a static route, a vendor specific, an address request, an address time, a class ID, a client ID, a relay agent information, a classless static route, an IEE 802.1Q VLAN ID, or some other type of network configuration parameters.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 3. The DHCP plug-in 208 may intercept the first IP assignment and the multiple DHCP options. The DHCP plug-in 208 may be provided in the DHCP server 204A. The DHCP plug-in 208 may act as an application server client to an application server 210A. As result of the interception, the process flow of FIG. 2 may stop the sending of information relating to the first IP assignment and the multiple DHCP options to the client 144.

In embodiments, the interception may be provided by the DHCP plug-in 208. In embodiments, the interception may be provided by the application server 210. In embodiments, the interception may be provided by the policy management facility 112.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 4, the DHCP plug-in 208 may send the client information to the application server 210.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2, at step 5, the application server 210 may send the client information to the policy management facility 112. The policy management facility 112 may formulate a second multiple DHCP options in association with policy associated with the enterprise 102.

In embodiments, the formulation of the second multiple DHCP options may be in association with the policy management facility 112. The policy management facility 112 may be associated with a policy. The policy may be associated with a user identification. For example, when a user is identified as an administrator of the network a super user policy may be implemented. The user identification may be associated with an enterprise organization set of policies for the enterprise 102. In embodiments, the enterprise organizational set of policies may be associated with a department. In embodiments, the enterprise organizational set of policies may be associated with a management position within the enterprise. In embodiments, the enterprise organizational set of policies may be associated with a personnel position within the enterprise. In embodiments, the enterprise organizational set of policies may be associated with an outside contractor. In embodiments, the enterprise organizational set of policies may be associated with a visitor to the enterprise.

In embodiments, the user identification may be associated with employment status. In embodiment, the user identification may be associated with personal policy profile.

In embodiments, the profile may be associated with the client configuration. The client configuration may be associated with compliance. Further, the compliance may be end-point security compliance. Furthermore, the end-point security may be associated with client 144 that may have updated end-point security software 152.

In embodiments, the compliance may be a software application compliance, a hardware compliance, a registration compliance, a license compliance, or some other type of compliance.

In embodiments, the client configuration may be associated with a client capability. The client capability may be a software capability, a hardware capability, a network access capability, an interface capability, or some other type of client capability.

In embodiments, the policy may be associated with an end-point security status. The end-point security status may indicate detection of malware. In embodiments, the end point security status may indicate a detection of suspicious behavior. The suspicious behavior may be associated with a software file. In embodiments, the suspicious behavior may be associated with a user action.

In embodiments, the policy may be associated with a location. In embodiments, the location may be a current location, a geographic location, a personal location, mobile location, an enterprise location, or some other type of location. In embodiments the location may be associated with the home location, the previous location, or some other type of location.

In embodiments, the policy may be associated with time. The time may be associated with work hours. In embodiments, the time may normal working hours, after working hours, late night, or some other time.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 6, the formulated second multiple DHCP options may be sent from the policy management facility 112 to the application server 210. In embodiments, the formulated second multiple DHCP options may be sent directly to the DHCP plug-in 208, or directly to the DHCP server 204.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 7 the application server 210 may send the formulated multiple DHCP options information to DHCP plug-in. 208.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 8, the formulated multiple DHCP options received by the DHCP plug-in. 208 may be implemented on the DHCP server 204A. The DHCP server 204A may change the DHCP options from the first IP assignment and first multiple DHCP options to the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with DHCP plug-in 208.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 9, the DHCP server 204A may send the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options to the client 144. The client 144 may apply the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with the client security facility 152.

Referring to the process flow of FIG. 2 at step 10, the client 144 may communicate with the application server 210.

Referring to FIG. 3, a process 300 is illustrated. The process 300 starts at logical block 302. At logical block 302 the client 144 may be presented. The client 144 may request an IP address from the DHCP server 204A. In addition, the client 144 may provide client information to the DHCP server 204A.

At logical block 304, the DHCP server 204A may formulate a first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options. At logical block 308, the policy management facility 112 may intercept the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options. As a result of interception by the policy management facility 112, the DHCP server 204A may stop the sending of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP option to the client 144.

At logical block 310, the client information may be sent from the DHCP server 204A to the policy management facility 112.

At logical block 312, a second set of multiple DHCP options may be formulated. The formulation of the second multiple DHCP options may be in association with policy management facility 112. The second multiple DHCP options may be sent from the policy management facility 112 to the DHCP server 204A.

At logical block 314, the DHCP server 204A may change the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options.

At logical block 318, the DHCP server 204A may send the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options to the client 144. The client 144 may apply the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with a client security facility 152.

Referring to FIG. 4, a process 400 is illustrated. The process 400 starts at logical block 402. At logical block 402 a client 144 may be presented. The client 144 may request an IP address from the DHCP server 204A. In addition, the client 144 may provide client information to the DHCP server 204A.

At logical block 404, the DHCP server 204A may formulate a first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options. At logical block 408, a DHCP plug-in 208 may be provided in the DHCP server 204A. At logical block 410, the DHCP plug-in 208 may intercept the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options. The interception by the DHCP plug-in 208 may stop the sending of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the client 144.

At logical block 412, the client information may be sent to the policy management facility 112 through the DHCP-plug-in 208.

At logical block 414, a second multiple DHCP options may be formulated. The formulation of the second multiple DHCP options may be in association with policy management facility 112. Further, the second multiple DHCP options may be sent from the policy management facility 112 to the DHCP plug-in 208.

At logical block 418, the DHCP server 204A may change the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options. In addition the changing of options from the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options may be in association with the DHCP plug-in 208.

At logical block 420, the DHCP server 204A may send the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options to the client 144. The client 144 may apply the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with a client security facility 152.

Referring to FIG. 5, a process 500 is illustrated. The process 500 starts at logical block 502. At logical block 502 a client 144 may be presented. The client 144 may request an IP address from the DHCP server 204A. In addition, the client 144 may provide client information to the DHCP server 204A.

At logical block 504, the DHCP server 204A may formulate a first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options. At logical block 508, a DHCP plug-in 208 may be provided in the DHCP server 204A. At logical block 510, the DHCP plug-in 208 may intercept the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options. The interception by the DHCP plug-in 208 may stop the sending of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the client 144.

At logical block 512, the client information may be sent from the DHCP plug-in 208 to the application server 210.

At logical block 514, the client information may be sent from the application server 210 to the policy management facility 112.

At logical block 518, a second multiple DHCP options may be formulated. The formulation of the second multiple DHCP options may be in association with policy management facility 112. Further, the second multiple DHCP options may be sent from the policy management facility 112 to the DHCP plug-in 208 through the application server 210.

At logical block 520, the DHCP server 204A may change the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to a second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options. In addition the changing of options from the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options to the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options may be in association with the DHCP plug-in 208.

At logical block 522, the DHCP server 204A may send the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options to the client 144. The client 144 may apply the second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options in association with a client security facility 152.

The elements depicted in flow charts and block diagrams throughout the figures imply logical boundaries between the elements. However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented as parts of a monolithic software structure, as standalone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these, and all such implementations are within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, while the foregoing drawings and description set forth functional aspects of the disclosed systems, no particular arrangement of software for implementing these functional aspects should be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.

Similarly, it will be appreciated that the various steps identified and described above may be varied, and that the order of steps may be adapted to particular applications of the techniques disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the depiction and/or description of an order for various steps should not be understood to require a particular order of execution for those steps, unless required by a particular application, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.

The methods or processes described above, and steps thereof, may be realized in hardware, software, or any combination of these suitable for a particular application. The hardware may include a general-purpose computer and/or dedicated computing device. The processes may be realized in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors or other programmable device, along with internal and/or external memory. The processes may also, or instead, be embodied in an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, programmable array logic, or any other device or combination of devices that may be configured to process electronic signals. It will further be appreciated that one or more of the processes may be realized as computer executable code created using a structured programming language such as C, an object oriented programming language such as C++, or any other high-level or low-level programming language (including assembly languages, hardware description languages, and database programming languages and technologies) that may be stored, compiled or interpreted to run on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneous combinations of processors, processor architectures, or combinations of different hardware and software.

Thus, in one aspect, each method described above and combinations thereof may be embodied in computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps thereof. In another aspect, the methods may be embodied in systems that perform the steps thereof, and may be distributed across devices in a number of ways, or all of the functionality may be integrated into a dedicated, standalone device or other hardware. In another aspect, means for performing the steps associated with the processes described above may include any of the hardware and/or software described above. All such permutations and combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is not to be limited by the foregoing examples, but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.

All documents referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference. 

1. A method, comprising: presenting a client requesting an IP address from a DHCP server, wherein the client provides client information to the DHCP server, and wherein the client requesting is made in association with a security threat detected by a client security facility; formulating a first IP assignment and a first plurality of DHCP options by the DHCP server; intercepting the first IP assignment and the first plurality of DHCP options by a policy management facility, wherein intercepting stops the sending of the first IP assignment and the first plurality of DHCP options to the client; sending client information to the policy management facility; formulating a second plurality of DHCP options in association with the policy management facility, wherein the second plurality of DHCP options is sent from the policy management facility to the DHCP server; changing the DHCP options in the DHCP server from the first IP assignment and first plurality of DHCP options to a second IP assignment and the second plurality of DHCP options; and sending the second IP assignment and the second plurality of DHCP options from the DHCP server to the client, wherein the client applies the second IP assignment and the second plurality of DHCP options in association with the client security facility.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the client requesting is made when the client initializes a network.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein the client requesting is generated through a TCP/IP configured software resident on the client.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the client information is a security vulnerability.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the security vulnerability is associated with malware security vulnerability.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the malware security vulnerability is from the client security facility detecting a malware threat.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the malware security vulnerability is from the client security facility detecting suspicious behavior.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the client information is a software vulnerability.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the client information is a client configuration status.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the client configuration status is associated with the policy management facility.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the policy management facility reads the configuration status as an indication of policy compliance.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the formulating the second plurality of DHCP options in association with the policy management facility is in association with a policy.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the DHCP server implements a protocol used by the client to obtain parameters necessary for the client to operate on an internet protocol (IP) network.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the client sends a broadcast query onto the IP network requesting the parameters from the DHCP server.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the DHCP server provides for a dynamic allocation of IP addresses.
 16. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of DHCP options are used to assign network configuration parameters.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the network configuration parameter is associated with full network access.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the network configuration parameter is associated with normal network access.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the network configuration parameter is associated with restricted access.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the network configuration parameter is associated with isolating the client. 